GASSVILLE — The new Gassville fire chief comes to the city from New York state, by way of Mountain Home.

The Gassville City Council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to hire former Mountain Home firefighter Michael Glotzl as the city’s full-time fire chief. He will replace Christy L. Dewey, who stepped down as fire chief in June to continue her career as an EMS responder.

Glotzl is a former Mountain Home firefighter/EMT and instructor. He served six years with the Mountain Home Fire Department and presently serves as a volunteer with that department. Before that, he spent 20 years as a professional firefighter/EMT with the Kingston, N.Y., Fire Department and also served as a member of Esopus, N.Y., Volunteer Fire Department for 27 years.

He currently holds Arkansas and National Fire Training Academy certificates in Firefighter I and II, Fire Officer I, Instructor I, Hazardous Materials Technician, Building Construction and Incident Command.

“Public service has been my life’s passion,” Glotzl told the Gassville City Council Tuesdya night after he recommended for the position by Mayor Jeff Braim. “It’s been my life’s dream to lead a fire department, and — I say this with all humility — I feel like I was made for an opportunity like this.”

His first day as fire chief will be Monday, he said.

Glotzl has served as an EMT for more than 30 years. He is currently out of certification, but can re-certify with 12 hours of training, he said.

“That will take a little while, but I absolutely intend on doing that,” he told council members.

Braim said the city received three applications for fire chief after Dewey resigned. One of those applicants withdrew their application after learning the job would conflict with their existing retirement benefits. The mayor interviewed the two remaining candidates and ultimately recommended Glotzl to the City Council, which voted to hire the former Mountain Home firefighter Tuesday night.

Glotzl will become Gassville’s third fire chief in seven months. Longtime Fire Chief Bill Johnson retired on Dec. 31, 2017, after serving 17 years as chief. Buford resident Will Syfrett was announced as Johnson’s successor, but decided not to accept the position. Dewey was promoted to chief in mid-March following Syfrett’s decision not to take the job.